Billing machine



Juiy 17, 1934. F. E. PFEIFFER BILLING MACHINE Filed June 12, 1931 5Sheets-Sheet l Jwm FRANK E. PFEIFFER, av m 1934- F. E. PFEIFFER1,966,682

BILLING MACHINE A; Z z Glam new BILLING MACHINE Filed June 12, 1931.

5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig.3.

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dlkmw F. E. PFEIFFER BILLING MACHINE Juiy 17, 1934.

Filed June 12, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jvwum FRANK E. PFEIFFER,

\ WMUM/ Patented July 17, 1934 UNITED STATES BILLING MACHINE Frank E.Pfeiifer, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to The Egry Register Company, Dayton,Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application June 12, 1931, Serial No.543,773

25 Claims.

My invention relates to sheet handling mechanism and particularly tomechanism for aligning a plurality of sheets arranged in superimposedrelationship for registration writing and particularly to align thosesheets in independent groups.

It is my object to align the independent groups by utilizing thetransverse perforations or creases in the groups of sheets where thosecreases are superimposed over each other in the respective groups.

It is a further object of supplying from either a single source ofsupply or a plurality of sources of supply the plurality of groups ofsheets to be aligned, of delivering them in a single group and, while sodelivered in a single group, aligning each group independently to bringall members of the single group into alignment.

It is my object to provide further means for a common support for thealigned group and a common clamping means for the aligned group when soaligned.

It is a further object of my invention to release the common clampingmeans on the final single group and simultaneously actuate the means foraligning the independent groups so that the sheets comprising the singlegroup may move independently in groups with respect to each other forfinal alignment.

Referring to the drawings:'

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a flat bed writing machine adaptableeither for autographic writing or machine writing as by a fiat bedplaten typewriter or billing machine;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 looking in thedirection of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2 looking in thedirection of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 44 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail section on the line 5-5 of Figure 1showing the aligning mechanism of one of the groups;

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail section on the line 66 of Figure 1showing the clamping mechanism for the composite group; in this viewonly one group of sheets is shown for the purpose of clarity, but,normally, there would be two or more groups of sheets which are clampedon the final writing table or platen;

Figure 7 is a detail view similar to Figure 5 showing the parts inaligned position for the sheets.

Referring to the drawings in detail, a support comprising standards 1and feet 2 arranged in spaced relationship and connected by the rods 3forms a support for the mechanism hereinafter described, particularlythe side bars 4. Mounted on the side bars 4 isthe usualflat bedtypewriter or billing machine which is connected to the racks 5. Thishas been omitted from the present showing as it forms no part of thepresent invention and is of conventional character.

My invention, of course, is adaptable to autographic or handwriting aswell.

The operator normally sits or stands at the right hand end of themachine so as to be in position to operate the typewriter, billingmachine or to write upon the superimposed group of sheets, designated 6.The sheets are pulled out by the operator towards the operator and thefree ends of the sheets of group 6 are clamped by the clamp 7, which isprovided with a sharp edge 8 against which the torn off sheets can betorn. The clamp 7 clamps the free ends of the sheets between the bottomof the clamp 7 and the clamping support 9 carried on the cross framemember 10 between the side bars 4.

The clamp 7 is carried by a pair of arcuate arms 11 pivoted on the crossshaft 12. The arm 11 is provided with an extension 13 having a slot 14for receiving the pin 15 on one end of a lever 16 that is pivoted on across rod 17 between the bars 4.' The other end of this lever 16 ispivotally mounted on the transverse rod 18 between the side bars 4 andis connected through the sleeve 19 with the depending finger 20 thatconstitutes a hook 21 for engagement with a spring 22. The other end ofthis spring is connected on a hook 23 on an arm 24 which is connected toa sleeve 25 that is a part of the lever 11. Thus, the spring, whenactuated, is pulled from both ends when the levers 11 and 13 on the onehand and the lever 16 on the other hand assume a straight line positionand approach dead center, which is the non-clamping position of theclamp 7.

This actuation of v the lever 16 is effected through the rod 17 by themovement of the lever 26 which is mounted thereon and the free end ofwhich is connected to the link 27. The link 27 is connected at its lowerend to the foot treadle 28 having a foot bar 29. The rear end of thistreadle is pivoted at 30 to the link 31 that is mounted upon the crossrod 3.

The sheets are fed from a pack in two groups generally designated 32 and33. The group 32 consisting of a plurality of sheets with transversecreases or perforations 34, is fed upwardly between the guiding bars 35and 36, through the slot 37 between the rear aligning table portions 38and 39 and thence forwardly over the table 39. The portions of the sheetpassing over the table 39 are guided and directed by a spring plate 40mounted on the portion 33. The two bars 35 and 36 are carried betweenlaterally disposed angular slide members 41 and reciprocate insynchronism with similar guide bars 42 and 43 carried on the slide 44which guide the group of sheets 33. These reciprocating guide members 41and 44 are connected by rods 45. The first mentioned group of sheets 32proceed to the right hand towards the operator over the aligning tableportion 46 and thence over the top of the group of sheets 33 servingthereby as the aligning and directing means for the group of sheets 33in the same manner that the spring plate 40 serves as a directing meansfor the group of sheets 32 to direct them into a horizontal plane. Bothgroups of sheets proceed thereafter over the aligning table 47 as acomposite unit designated group 6, the free ends of each group of sheetsbeing clamped by the clamp 7 as heretofore explained. 7

It will be noted that the two slides 41 and 44 with their connectingrods 45 are actuated by a common actuating'plate 48 having an angularcross member 49 which is engaged by the bell crank 50 pivoted at 51 andactuated by a chain 52 that is connected around the rod 53 on the foottreadle 28 so that, when the treadle is actu-. ated by pressingdownwardly by the operator, the clamp 7 will be elevated while thesheets are thus loosened from the clamp and can slide horizontally oneon the other. The sheets are aligned by groups by the movement of theslides 41 and 44.

The slides 41 and 44 have thereon transverse plates 41b and 44b. Therear ends of the plates 46 and 47 have formedthereon sharp edges 41a and44a for engagement with transverse creases in the strips of paper foraligning. the strips when the transverse plates 41b and 44b are movedforwardly under the action of the spring 54.

In Figure 5 the transverse rods 42 and 43 are in the advanced positionfor holding the sheets 33 so that they are aligned bymeans of the sharpedge 44a. In Figure 7 these same rods 42 and 43 are in their rearwardpositions for permitting the feeding of the strips through the slot inthe tables or plates. The rods 35 and 36 and the rods 42 and 43 engagethe respective groups of sheets 32 and 33 pushing them backwardly toloosen them so'that they can be thus aligned. Such movement unbends thesheets as shown in Figure 5 from engagement with the sharp corners ofthe plate 47 and the plate 39 respectively. When the treadie is releasedthe spring 54 moves these aligning plates forwardly, and, in doing so,causes the rods 36 and 42 to engage the respective groups of sheets 32and 33 and to cause them to engage the sharp edges of the plates 39 and47 and to thus place an acute angle in the sheets along the lines oftheir perforations. This prevents forward movement of the sheets and theentire group of sheets 6 is clamped by the clamp '1.

There are several advantages gained by the alignment of the sheets ingroups and the delivery of the aligned groups in a single group and thealignment of the sheets while in the single group after each writingoperation when the sheets written upon have been torn oil. Whenutilizing a machine having more than three or four sheets, if analignment is attempted by aligning on the creases as indicated, it hasbeen found that, due to the excessive number of sheets over three orfour, or if particularly heavy paper is being employed, the sheets indoing their aligning operation will pull themselves out of alignment dueto the thickness of the group of sheets over the aligning creases ortransverse perforations. By aligning in groups, this mal-alignment doesnot take place because there are insufficient number of sheets to causesuflicient thickness to throw the sheets out of alignment. Therefore,perfect alignment is secured and, at the same time, the advantage ofhaving from three to fifteen, or twenty, sheetsin superimposed rela-'tionship in a single group maintained in perfect alignment is obtained.

This alignment is retained by moving the bars 42 and 43, or 36 and 35into their forward looking positions to, hold the aligned creased sheetsagainst the sharp edges of the supporting plates 39 and 4'7. 2

Another advantage that results from this arrangement is that the sheetsmay be separately written upon in aligned groups on the respectivesupports 39 and 47 or on the/support 39 and the support 55, whichsupports the group of sheets 6.

A further advantage is the fact that,'with a plurality of these groupsof sheets and separate aligning means for each group, the machine isrendered flexible so that any number of groups may be written uponby'laying back the sheets of one group and not utilizing them while theother group is being written upon.

It will be understood that a plurality of carbon sheets are .interleavedbetween the composite group of sheets 6 but the showing of these carbonsheets is eliminated for the purpose of clarity,

as such arrangement is a conventional one in mechanism of thischaracter.

It will be understood that I desire to comprehend within my inventionsuch modifications as may be necessary to adapt it to varying conditionsand uses.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is: I

1. In a machine for writing upon a plurality of superimposed sheetshavingtransverse creases, means for aligning said sheets by groups ofsaid sheets by aligning said sheets on their transverse creases, andmeans for supporting said sheets in a single group of aligned sheets.

2. In a machine for writing upon a plurality of superimposed sheetshaving transverse creases, means for aligning said sheets by groups ofsaid sheets by aligning said sheets on their transverse creases, andmeans for supporting said sheets in a single aligned group, and means ofclamping the group.

3. -In a machine for writing upon a plurality of superimposed sheetshaving transverse creases, means for aligning said sheets by groups ofsaid sheets by aligning said sheets on their transverse creases, meansfor supporting said sheets in a single aligned group, means of clampingthe group, and means for unclamping the group just before the alignmentof the separate groups takes place.

4. In a machine for writing upon a plurality of superimposed sheetshaving transverse creases, means for aligning said sheets by groups ofsaid sheets by aligning said sheets on their transverse creases, meansfor supporting said sheets in a single aligned group, means of clampingthe group, means for unclamping the group just before the alignment ofthe separate groups takes place, and means to effect the alignment ofthe separate groups simultaneously.

5. In combination in a machine for writing upon a plurality ofregistered superimposed sheets having transverse creases, a slottedplate, an aligning slide adapted to move with relation to the slot insaid plate, front and rear guide bars in spaced relationship mounted onsaid slide between which said superimposed sheets are guided through theslot and over a portion of the slotted plate at substantially rightangles to the plane of delivery of the sheets, whereby said guide barsengaging the sheets adjacent the slot willdraw said sheets forward foralignment along the transverse creases therein.

6. In combination in a machine for writing upon a plurality ofregistered superimposed sheets having transverse creases, a slottedplate, an aligning slide adapted to move with relation to the slot insaid plate, front and rear guide bars in spaced relationship mounted onsaid slide between which said superimposed sheets are guided through theslot and over a portion of the slotted plate at substantially rightangles to the plane of delivery of the sheets, whereby said guide barsengaging the sheets adjacent the slot will draw said sheets forward foralignment along the transverse creases therein, means for actuating saidslide, and a clamping means for engaging the free ends of said sheetsadapted'to be unclamped when said slide is actuated.

7.- In combination in a machine handling a plurality of superimposedsheets having transverse aligning creases, a plate over which saidsheets are drawn having an edge for aligning the transverse creases ofthe sheets, a slide adapted to engage said sheets adjacent the bottom ofsaid plate, spaced bars on said slide for alternately pushing andpulling said sheets away from and against the edge of said plate, asecond mechanism of similar character interconnected with the firstmentioned mechanism, whereby said slides move simultaneously and thesheets handled thereby are aligned simultaneously in independent groups,and a common means for supporting and clamping the groups of sheets in a,single group.

8. In combination in a machine handling a plurality of superimposedsheets having transverse aligning creases, a plate over which saidsheets are drawn having an edge for aligning the transverse creases ofthe sheets, a slide adapted to engage said sheets adjacent the bottom ofsaid plate, spaced bars on said slide for alternately pushing andpullingsaid sheets away from and against the edge of said plate, a secondmechanism of similar character interconnected with the first mentionedmechanism, whereby said slides move simultaneously and the sheetshandled thereby are aligned simultaneously in independent groups, acommon means for supporting and clamping the groups of sheets in asingle group, and means for unclamping said sheets just before they arealigned in groups.

9. In combination in a machine handling a plurality of superimposedsheets having transverse aligning creeses, a plate over which saidsheets are drawn having an edge for aligning the transverse creases ofthe sheets, a slide adapted to engage said sheets adjacent the bottom ofsaid plate, spaced bars on said slide for alternately pushing andpulling said sheets away from and against the edge of said plate, asecond mechanism of similar character interconnected with the firstmentioned mechanism, whereby said slides move simultaneously and thesheets handled thereby are aligned simultaneously in independent groups,a common means for supporting and clamping the groups of sheets in asingle group, and means for unclamping said sheets just before they arealigned in groups, means associated with the first mechanism foraligning the first group of sheets todirect the sheets in parallelrelationship over the supporting plate, said second group of sheetsbeing engaged by the first group of. sheets for directing the secondgroup of sheets over the second supporting plate.

10. In combination in a machine having a plurality of superimposedsheets having transverse creases, means of supplying said sheets ingroups to spaced tables at substantially right angles thereto and ofdirecting each group of sheets over said tables at right angles to theplane of delivery of the sheets and parallel to the surface of thetables, means for aligning the sheets of each group against the edges ofthe tables along the line of the creases in the sheets, means ofsupporting the groups of sheets in a single group, means of clamping thesingle group of sheets, means of unclamping the single group of sheetsand effecting a subsequent alignment in the separate groups of sheets.

11. In combination in a machine having a plurality of superimposedsheets having transverse creases, means of supplying said sheets ingroups to spaced tables at substantially right angles thereto and ofdirecting each group of sheets over said tables at right angles to theplane of delivery of the sheets and parallel to the surface of thetables. means for aligning the sheets of each group against the edges ofthe tables along the line of the creases in the sheets, means ofsupporting the groups of sheets in a single group, means of clamping thesingle group of sheets, means of unclamping the single group of sheetsand eifecting a subsequent alignment in the separate groups of sheets,and independent yielding means for resisting the unclamping movement ofthe aligning mechanism.

12. In a machine having a plurality of sheets in superimposedsubstantial aligned relationship and having transverse creases insubstantially superimposed relationship, means for aligning said sheetsin groups along their transverse creases means for delivering the sheetsinto a single group, means for clamping said sheets in the singlegroup,-and a common means for releasing the sheet clamping means and thealigning means substantially simultaneously.

13. In a machine having a plurality of sheets in superimposedsubstantial aligned relationship and having transverse creases insubstantially superimposed relationship, a supporting standard, a foottreadle mounted thereon, a supporting plate for a plurality of sheets, aclamp adapted to engage said sheets, yielding means for maintaining saidclamp in position, means for connecting said clamp to the foot treadle,means for supporting and delivering a plurality of sheets in a plane atright angles to the plane of the support for the sheets, means foraligning said sheets along their transverse creases and for deliverard,a foot treadle mounted thereon, a supporting plate for a plurality ofsheets, a clamp adapted to engage said sheets, yielding means formaintaining said clamp in position, means for connecting said clamp tothe foot treadle, means for supporting and delivering a plurality ofsheets in a plane at right angles to the plane of the support for thesheets, means for aligning said sheets along their transverse creasesand for delivering them in a horizontal plane on to the supportingtable, and means interconnectingthe aligning means and said foot treadlefor simultaneous operation with the clamp, and yielding means forrestoring the aligning means and clamp to their initial position and ofreturning the foot treadle to its initial position.

15. In combination, a plurality of horizontallydisposed spaced slottedtables adapted to support sheets having transverse creases, slidablemeans on each table carrying spaced guide members, said guide membersbeing adapted to align the sheets on their transverse creases and guidethe sheets in groups therebetween and through the slots of said tables;and another table for supporting all of said sheets in loose,superimposed relationship to permit independent movement of the sheets.

16. In combination in a machine having a. plurality of superimposedsheets having transverse creases, a writing table for supporting aplurality of groups of sheets, a plurality of spaced separate aligningtables, each adapted to receive a group of sheets, means associated witheach aligning table for aligning the group of sheets against the edgesof the aligning tables along the lines of creases of the sheets, andmeans of clamping the sheets of all the groups after alignment on thewriting table in a single group of aligned sheets.

17. In a. billing machine, a' table having slots therein, each slotadapted to receive a group of sheets of paper, means adjacent each slotto align the sheets therein, means on the table to clamp the sheets ofboth groups, and a common means to release the clamp and operate thealignins means.

18. In a billing machine, a table having slots therein, each slot beingadapted to receive a group of sheets of paper, means beneath each slotto move the sheets of paper therein with relation to the slot, a clampon the table to clamp all the sheets, and a common means to release theclamp and to operate said means.

19. In a billing machine, a table having slots therein to receive sheetsof paper, the table on one side of each slot having a sharp edge, meansbeneath each slot tending to hold the sheets therein against the sharpedge, a clamp for clamping all of the sheets, and a common means torelease the clamp and to move said means to move the sheets away fromthe sharp edges.

'20. In a billing machine, a table having a plurality of slots thereinto receive sheets of paper, the table on one side of each slot having asharp edge, means beneath each slot tending to hold the sheets thereinagainst the sharp edge, a clamp on'the table for clamping all of thesheets, and a treadle for releasing the clamp and to move said means tomove the sheets away from the sharp edges.

21. In a billing machine, a table having a plurality of slots therein toreceive sheets of paper, the table on one side of each slot having asharp edge, a pair of rollers beneath each slot tending to hold thesheets therein against the sharp edge, a clamp for clamping all of thesheets, and a common means for releasing the clamp and for moving therollers to move the sheets away from the sharp edges. ,7 I

22. In a billing machine, a table having a plurality of slots therein toreceive sheets of paper, the table on one side of each slot having asharp edge, a pair of rollers beneath each slot tending to hold thesheets therein against the sharp edge, a clamp for clamping all of thesheets, and a treadle for releasing the clamp and to move the rollers tomove the sheets away from the sharp edges.

23. In a machine having a plurality of sheets, means to supply saidsheets to said machine in separate groups, separate means for aligningsaid sheets in each group, and means for supporting *said groups as asingle group both before and after the operation of said aligning means.

24. In a machine having a plurality of sheets, means to supply saidsheets to said machine in separate groups, separate means for aligningsaid sheets in each grou means for supporting said groups as a singlegroup .both before and after the operation of said aligning means, andmeans for intermittently clamping the single group of sheets.

25.In a machine having a plurality of sheets, means to supply saidsheets to said machine in separate groups, separate means for aligningsaid sheets in each group, means for supporting said groups as a singlegroup both before and after the operation 01' said aligning means, meansfor intermittently clamping the single group of sheets, and means forunclamping the single group of sheets while the sheets are beingaligned.

FRANK E. PFEIEFER.

